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Cleveland Browns players 'respect the heck out of' coach Rob Chudzinski as they prep for stretch drive


Mark O

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BEREA, Ohio – After an embarrassing first half in Kansas City, the man who was not the first choice to coach these Browns demonstrated why he might be the best choice.

An angry Rob Chudzinski stood inside the Arrowhead Stadium visitors locker room and tore into a club that had produced eight straight losing quarters of football dating to the second half of the Detroit game on Oct. 13.

With the season threatening to unravel for the second time in eight weeks, the coach who grew up a Browns fan expressed his disappointment in a withering tone. This wasn’t the genial former assistant who spends news conferences smiling frequently and revealing little.

It was Chud unfiltered. Chud untethered.

 

“We needed it,” defensive captain D’Qwell Jackson said. “He's not afraid to say what's on his mind, and it gets us going. We're all grown men, and he doesn't call guys out. Whatever we need to have corrected is corrected, but he doesn't call anyone out. He's telling everyone, ‘This is what we need to do to win this ballgame.’ "

The Browns’ second-half rally fell short against the Chiefs, but the momentum gained carried into last week’s 24-18 win over the Baltimore Ravens at FirstEnergy Stadium.

“He's a fiery guy and we're like, ‘Show us more of that. Show us more of it.’ And at halftime in Kansas City, he got us going . . . and we were a completely different team.”

The Browns (4-5) find themselves as unlikely playoff contenders in their bye week for various reasons. Part of it is attributed to the conference’s relative mediocrity once you get past Kansas City, Denver, New England and Indianapolis. Part of it is an AFC North in decline as Baltimore and Pittsburgh tried unsuccessfully to keep up appearance with talent comb-overs.

But the Browns also own their position to a resiliency past editions did not exhibit. They have overcome an 0-2 start, the trade of Trent Richardson, three starting quarterbacks in the past five weeks and other distractions without splintering. Chudzinski addressed the topic Wednesday.

“There’s been a lot of things that happened and a lot of things going on, different situations, some unique, some that you expect and some things that don’t happen very often that we’ve had,” Chudzinski said. “I go back to the kind of people that we have here and the identity that we’re creating . . .

“They haven’t flinched. Whatever happens, what we talk as coaches to them about is how you respond to the things that happen. It’s not what happens, it’s how you respond to it."

At the center of the Browns’ revival – they are one win from matching their victory total from last season -- is a coach who many saw as a surprise hire on Jan. 10. The Browns courted Chip Kelly, who spurned them for Philadelphia, and are believed to have at least gauged the interest of Alabama icon Nick Saban.

The coach the Browns eventually named has been adept at handling the dysfunction and chaos that’s enveloped Berea since 1999. He lost his best offensive playmaker, receiver Josh Gordon, to a two-game drug ban to open the season and spent the weeks following the Richardson trade keeping the team focused as rumors of an impending fire sale swirled.

“I think we’re in great hands here,” Browns punter Spencer Lanning said. “Chud has the perfect balance of being a man like (South Carolina coach) Steve Spurrier who is aggressive and set in his ways – I think the world of Coach Spurrier – and the other end of the spectrum he’s got some Lovie Smith in him."

What veterans such as Joe Thomas and Jackson appreciate is Chudzinski’s steady-handed governance and his ability to deliver on preseason promises. He pledged the Browns would be attack-minded on offense and defense, that they would take risks and see change.

The Browns lead the league in fourth-down attempts (19) and conversions (10), rank second in sacks (31) and will likely break a string of five seasons with at least 11 losses.

“Everything thus far has held true,” Jackson said. “And that goes a long way throughout the locker room, especially for a guy like myself. I've had a lot of coaches say one thing, and then depending on how the season goes you’re entirely a different team. He's done a great job with that, and that's a true testament in what he believes in . . .

“We respect the heck out of him.”

Chudzinski, a Toledo native, relates so well to players because he was one. He played for the college program that put the swag in swagger. The former tight end won a pair of national championships at the University of Miami in the late 1980s when as Jackson observed, The U “was The U to say the least.”

His coaching staff also has championship pedigree. Offensive coordinator Norv Turner and defensive coordinator Ray Horton have won Super Bowls with other franchises.

 

“I think (Chudzinski’s) mindset and attitude really sits well with our young football team,” quarterback Jason Campbell said. “You can see the growth and see also him having Coach Norv and Coach Ray, two guys that have been around the league as well. I think they work collective as a group to get everyone prepared week in and week out.”

The Browns have much to improve if they expect to stay in the playoff races. Lost in all the optimism surrounding the break is the fact the Browns have lost three of their last four games and have beaten only one opponent (Cincinnati) currently with a winning record.

They used the bye week to analyze their 25th-ranked run game; the offensive and defensive struggles on third downs; and defending in the red zone.

Another issue is finding a way to win on the road, where four of their final seven games will be played. The Browns have won two of their last 18 games away from Cleveland.

The players, however, trust Chudzinski and staff will put them in position to win. In listening to his impassioned speeches Jackson hears his coach's genuine love for the franchise.

 

 

“You can tell his roots are with the Browns,” Jackson said. “He tells us personal stories. He brings the personal stories into his football life. He definitely has our attention.”

 

 

http://www.cleveland.com/browns/index.ssf/2013/11/cleveland_browns_players_respe.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitter

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Heart-warming article...

 

Loved this line..

"...Baltimore and Pittsburgh tried unsuccessfully to keep up appearance with talent comb-overs."

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Hated Shurmur, felt sorry for RAC and never warmed up to Mangini. Can't say I disliked him, but can't say the opposite either. I liked Marty, Bud and yes, Bill, but nothing since.

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Mangini doesnt have one ounce of real that Chud has..Mangini is too busy focusing on a "Mantra" rather than focusing on what matters..."the players on this team. Chud gets it and pushes the right buttons while Mangini's only skill was alienating players. Also...Chud makes the gutsy call's that Marty Schottenpussy was too chickenshit to call.....

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I liked Mangini and felt he should've been given more time. Was never a fan of Shurmur or Romeo. Liked Butch till he quit on the team. But I do really like Chud.

Rumors is the players didn't respect or believe in mangini. In the NFL that's half the battle.

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I liked Mangini and felt he should've been given more time. Was never a fan of Shurmur or Romeo. Liked Butch till he quit on the team. But I do really like Chud.

 

My exact feelings as well...

 

I still say that if Fujita was not hurt against the Jets we go on to win that game, make the playoffs and Mangini remains the coach.

 

All things considered though, for the first time I feel like I like where we have ended up better than my above could-have-been scenario. And it feels pretty good.

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Rumors is the players didn't respect or believe in mangini. In the NFL that's half the battle.

I'd love to see where you heard that.

 

The only problem players reportedly had with Mangini is that he made them go to his camp in Connecticut or wherever the fuck.

 

Taking a team with as little talent as he had and beating the Saints and the Patriots in successive weeks does wonders for earning the respect and faith of your team.

 

Mangini was let go because Lerner was in panic mode...again. I still believe that Mangini, given another year without Kokinis, would have gotten the Browns to the playoffs.

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despite what you all think...Mangini blows...he stunk with the jets...he stunk with the browns...he stinks period...and the team is far better off without his idiotic mantra bullshit..

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despite what you all think...Mangini blows...he stunk with the jets...he stunk with the browns...he stinks period...and the team is far better off without his idiotic mantra bullshit..

Despite what you think, you're wrong about most everything you say.

 

This is no exception,

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mangenious. loved that guy and at least the team played tough for him. uh, if we only had had a QB (record skipping noise in background). thanks holmgren!

 

still don't know about chud, but with the talent (some pre banner/lombardi, some since) that we have on this team we should be winning more games. and why did it take until week 8 to give this 'fired-up' 'in your face' halftime speech? seems like he might have done that a little sooner. like in week 4 maybe?

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Despite what you think, you're wrong about most everything you say.

 

This is no exception,

 

Despite what you think junior,,,your dead wrong..by all means have another drink and drunk post some more...your really good at it...

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I heard the same thing about Mangini and the players a few years ago also.

I thought he could of done better if given time but he wasnt "Holmgrens guy".

And I know when he first came to cleveland he brought a ton of old dinosaurs in through FA and put us in a terrible spot later down the road for the cap.

Im not putting all of that on mangini Or kokinis but EM had say in bringing in those senior citizens from the jets. And his coaching style was too conservative and vanilla at times. With that being said I'm not even sure if we even blitzed back then. Oh well, fuck it.

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Unlike you, I wouldn't be drunk at 1:24 PM.

 

Nice try, sweetie.

 

I rarely drink if maybe a beer or 2 a month...and certainly not at 1:24 PM in the afternoon. But by all means...drink yourself to death.

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I rarely drink if maybe a beer or 2 a month...and certainly not at 1:24 PM in the afternoon. But by all means...drink yourself to death.

cheers!

 

btw. love your sig.

 

all that hate must be so prominent in your composing of music.

 

who do you write for, anthrax or slipknot?

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cheers!

 

btw. love your sig.

 

all that hate must be so prominent in your composing of music.

 

who do you write for, anthrax or slipknot?

 

Dont need hate alone to write music...theres a whole range of emotiona in music...Listen to one Rachmaninoffs compositions and you'll run the whole gamut of emotions listening to it. I write music for anyone that'll listen,but mainly because I enjoy doing it. It's something that comes natural to Me. And it's fun. Was never a fan of Anthrax or Slipnot. Never was a metal guy..Although I like elements of metal...It's too one dimensional..I employ elements of Jazz,Blues, Hard Rock and even Classical into My music. I like just about everything except Rap and Country. I play guitar mostly but,other instruments as well....

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same here brother.

 

i like the way rappers incorporate other people music into their own. total originality. B)

LOL,,,A brother of substance...Love it! :)

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